1) Oliver Family - letter to my mother from my grandmother dated May 24 1946. She was living in Bexhill, Sussex at this time. Unfortunately I never got to know this grandmother and only recall meeting her once - I spent a day at her house when I was about 5 or 6 years old. My mother was annoyed as I returned home with my hair cut short. I also remember getting some lovely new dresses !
"Dear Lesley
I am indeed grieved to hear that all has gone wrong again. I did so hope and pray that you and John would find happiness together once more - but I suppose it was not to be. He and I had words about it some days ago. I felt that something was wrong - because of John coming over here but could get nothing out of him. It was only when I received your letter that I knew the true facts of the case. In view of what you wrote I think you are taking the best way out. I've told John what I think of the whole incident.
I do hope you won't let all this unpleasantness interfere with my friendship with you and my affection and interest in the children, and perhaps later on - you and they will come over and see me. I am none too well and these things don't help me.
My love and kisses for the children,
Yours affectionately. G.G. Agar
As the result of what I said to John, he left here very early Wed. morning."
2) Letter from Pamela Barnard (undated)
"How I wish you and I could have an afternoon - or even day - together quite alone without any interruptions and sit down at a large firm table and spread out all the letters, photos, notebooks and pictures. You could ask me questions and we would discuss everything. So impossible to do it by letter and there are so many things I could tell you that I'm sure would interest you. You know our ancestors came from Wiltshire and Berkshire. There are still any amount of Neates in that part of the world. My grandmother lived in the village f Froxfield near Hungerford, Berkshire when she was a child."
She had sent me a family tree and had this to say about it:
"I got the original from a woman who had married on of the Wilsons and who was living in a flat in Worthing. She had met him when working in a draper's shop in Crouch End, North London, belonging to the Wilsons* and I always meant to get in touch with them as they knew so much about the family but I hear they have given the shop up and it's being pulled down, which was quite a shock. I would very much like to contact them and ask them to let me copy anything interesting. The James' used to come and see my Grandmother, Hilda, Howard** etc. They had and very likely still have, a leather business in the City of London. They made handbags, suitcases and various things and used to give my Grandmother Christmas presents made of leather."
*One called Jane Wilson after her grandmother.
** Howard - unknown to me.
Monday, April 11, 2016
Saturday, April 9, 2016
Those Were The Days !
Arthur Alison Barnard's wedding to Hilda Stopford
Arthur was a barrister at law, a cricket blue at Cambridge and a well known amateur boxer. There is a quotation from an autobiography, below, which mentions him.
(Sir Harry Preston was proprietor of the Royal Albion Hotel in Brighton, England and owned the Royal York, which is the original of "The Royal Sussex" in Arnold Bennett's novel "Clayhanger". The housekeeper in that book is Miss Beatrice Collins, Preston's sister in law and the pageboy, Preston's valet.)
_________________________
The above is taken from a letter written to me by Pamela Barnard, daughter of Arthur and Hilda Barnard.
Arthur Alison Barnard's wedding to Hilda Stopford
Arthur was a barrister at law, a cricket blue at Cambridge and a well known amateur boxer. There is a quotation from an autobiography, below, which mentions him.
His marriage to Hilda was featured in a society magazine called "Madame", dated August 11, 1900 under the title "Fashionable Weddings". (The advertisements in the magazine are amazing: Landaus and other carriages, belted corsets, "a natty frock of foulard").
The first wedding featured on that same page was of Lady Randolph Churchill, the widow of Winston Churchill to her second husband, Mr. George Cornwallis West, only son of Colonel. W. Cornwallis West of Ruthin Castle. Even though there is no connection, I will quote the details of their wedding, just for historical interest: "The church was beautifully decorated with palms and crimson gladioli and there was a beautiful musical service.... The bride, who was given away by the Duke of Marlborough, looked exceedingly well in her wedding gown of pale blue chiffon over blue glace silk. The skirt was ornamented with innumerable tucks and insertions of string coloured Cluny lace and round the hem there was a deep flounce of the same lace headed by a band of insertion. The bodice was of tucked blue chiffon with a bolero of Cluny lace and a vest of white chiffon crossed by draperies of pale blue silk, fastened with a handsome turquoise and diamond ornament. With this charming gown the bride wore a toque of tucked blue chiffon, the brim veiled with ecru Brussels point applique lace and finished on the left side with a cluster of white roses. A soft plume of blue and white marabout completed the trimming of this pretty toque. Lady Randolph Churchill carried a prayer book bound in white vellum and a loose bunch of white roses. ... After the ceremony a wedding breakfast was served at the residence of the bride's sister...the bride and bridegroom leaving early in the afternoon for Broughton Castle lent for the occasion by Lord and Lady Algernon Gordon-Lennox. The bride's travelling dress was of blue French silk canvas, the skirt ornamented with long lines of hem stitching and the front of the bodice arranged with a very beautiful piece of antique rose point lace, which was included among her wedding presents. With this she wore a toque of blue chiffon, trimmed with mauve and blue shaded convolvulus...."
The first wedding featured on that same page was of Lady Randolph Churchill, the widow of Winston Churchill to her second husband, Mr. George Cornwallis West, only son of Colonel. W. Cornwallis West of Ruthin Castle. Even though there is no connection, I will quote the details of their wedding, just for historical interest: "The church was beautifully decorated with palms and crimson gladioli and there was a beautiful musical service.... The bride, who was given away by the Duke of Marlborough, looked exceedingly well in her wedding gown of pale blue chiffon over blue glace silk. The skirt was ornamented with innumerable tucks and insertions of string coloured Cluny lace and round the hem there was a deep flounce of the same lace headed by a band of insertion. The bodice was of tucked blue chiffon with a bolero of Cluny lace and a vest of white chiffon crossed by draperies of pale blue silk, fastened with a handsome turquoise and diamond ornament. With this charming gown the bride wore a toque of tucked blue chiffon, the brim veiled with ecru Brussels point applique lace and finished on the left side with a cluster of white roses. A soft plume of blue and white marabout completed the trimming of this pretty toque. Lady Randolph Churchill carried a prayer book bound in white vellum and a loose bunch of white roses. ... After the ceremony a wedding breakfast was served at the residence of the bride's sister...the bride and bridegroom leaving early in the afternoon for Broughton Castle lent for the occasion by Lord and Lady Algernon Gordon-Lennox. The bride's travelling dress was of blue French silk canvas, the skirt ornamented with long lines of hem stitching and the front of the bodice arranged with a very beautiful piece of antique rose point lace, which was included among her wedding presents. With this she wore a toque of blue chiffon, trimmed with mauve and blue shaded convolvulus...."
Hilda and Arthur's wedding was celebrated at St. Andrew’s Church, West Kensington on August 2, 1900. The bride was living at 38 Castletown Road at the time. "The church was prettily decorated with palms and white flowers and the service was fully choral. The Rev. John Colyer, assisted by the Rev. William Bate, officiated. The bride was given away by her cousin, Capt. Walter J. Stopford, C.F. She wore a dress of ivory duchesse satin, draped with some beautiful old lace. The bodice was arranged with a picturesque fiche of mousseline de soie, whilst the sleeves and yoke were of chiffon, embroidered in silver. Mr. H. W. Barnard (Walter), brother of the bridegroom was best man, and the bridesmaids were Miss Hendy (Nellie-half sister), sister of the bride, Miss Barnard (Lillian), sister of the bridegroom, Miss. F. W. Hendy (Florence Winifred who later married George Barnard), cousin of the bride, and two little girls, Miss Honor and Miss Irene Rawlinson. The elder bridesmaids had dresses of white satin voile over silk, trimmed with duchesse lace insertion and chiffon. They had black chiffon picture hats trimmed with roses. The little girls were dressed in white muslin and lace over pale blue silk, blue sashes and white picture hats. There was no reception after the ceremony and the bride and bridegroom left early in the afternoon for Sussex. The bride's going away dress was of pale blue cashmere, trimmed with white silk and ecru lace and worn with a watteau coat to correspond. Her toque of black chiffon was trimmed with sequia net and pale pink roses."
________________________________
From the autobiography "Leaves From My Unwritten Diary" of Sir Harry Preston.
"I remember Count Vivian Hollander, the well known boxing and wrestling referee had a bull terrier called "Standish Hero", which he left behind when he went off to the war. One evening there was an air raid and the family ran down to the billiard room. But not so the dog; he stopped behind to fetch the dressing gown belonging to his absent master. "Standish Hero" died during the war. He was left behind at Farnborough, and one day he fell ill. He dragged his master's tunic from his room, lay down on the tunic and simply passed away. Hollander wrote to tell his friend, Mr. A.A. Barnard, who was then in the West Indies, the sad story. Barnard, a barrister, and a well known amateur boxer, replied telling Hollander a story about the dog, which was new to its owner. Barnard had met a reformed criminal, who had told him of the various burglaries he had committed, and how he was one of the gang who had robbed Sir Claude Champion De Crespigny outside the National Sporting Club.
"We was going to burgle Hollander's house after that", said the crook, "But we didn't - we had been watching the house and found he was away every Monday night." (Hollander was on the Committee of the National Sporting Club then, and Monday night was our fight night). "One day outside we saw that ruddy big white dawg of his 'ave a scrap, and after that we didn't fancy the job"
________________________________
From the autobiography "Leaves From My Unwritten Diary" of Sir Harry Preston.
"I remember Count Vivian Hollander, the well known boxing and wrestling referee had a bull terrier called "Standish Hero", which he left behind when he went off to the war. One evening there was an air raid and the family ran down to the billiard room. But not so the dog; he stopped behind to fetch the dressing gown belonging to his absent master. "Standish Hero" died during the war. He was left behind at Farnborough, and one day he fell ill. He dragged his master's tunic from his room, lay down on the tunic and simply passed away. Hollander wrote to tell his friend, Mr. A.A. Barnard, who was then in the West Indies, the sad story. Barnard, a barrister, and a well known amateur boxer, replied telling Hollander a story about the dog, which was new to its owner. Barnard had met a reformed criminal, who had told him of the various burglaries he had committed, and how he was one of the gang who had robbed Sir Claude Champion De Crespigny outside the National Sporting Club.
"We was going to burgle Hollander's house after that", said the crook, "But we didn't - we had been watching the house and found he was away every Monday night." (Hollander was on the Committee of the National Sporting Club then, and Monday night was our fight night). "One day outside we saw that ruddy big white dawg of his 'ave a scrap, and after that we didn't fancy the job"
(Sir Harry Preston was proprietor of the Royal Albion Hotel in Brighton, England and owned the Royal York, which is the original of "The Royal Sussex" in Arnold Bennett's novel "Clayhanger". The housekeeper in that book is Miss Beatrice Collins, Preston's sister in law and the pageboy, Preston's valet.)
_________________________
The above is taken from a letter written to me by Pamela Barnard, daughter of Arthur and Hilda Barnard.
Thursday, October 1, 2015
Transcripts of various deeds
(Handwritten Deed – yellowed paper which is beginning to
fall apart)
(5 shillings in St. Lucia stamps)
8th May 1893
Deed of Exchange between S. Barnard & V.S. Gouldsbury
Administrator of the Government
Of certain portions
of land in the Quarter of Castries. 1st
Office Copy delivered to Mr S. Barnard 10/5/93
______________________
Know all men by these presents that before the undersigned
Peter Joseph Kinnier-Ferguson, Notary Royal in and for the Island of Saint
Lucia, residing in Castries.Personally appeared Samuel Barnard, of Castries, merchant and landed proprietor, of the one part,
And his Honner (sic) Valerius Skipton Gouldsbury, Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Administrator of the Government of the Island of Saint Lucia, acting on behalf of the said Government, of the other part
Who have made the following exchange:-
The said Samuel Barnard has ceded and conveyed, and does hereby cede and convey, with legal warranty, unto the Government of Saint Lucia, accepting by the said Valerius Skipton Gouldsbury, Administrator of the Goverment as aforesaid. A portion of land containing one rood and thirty four perches, situate in the Quarter of Castries in this Island, and lying and being between the Darling Road and the Rosiere Estate and bounded as follows, that is to say, North and West by the said Darling Road East by the said Rosiere Estate and the Botanical Garden lands, and South by the said Botanical Garden lands – the said portion of land being coloured blue and marked B in the Diagram by Henry Reeve, Director of Surveys hereinafter referred to.
And in counter exchange the said Valerius Skipton Gouldsbury, acting on behalf of the said Government of Saint Lucia, has ceded and conveyed and does hereby cede and convey, with legal warranty unto the said Samuel Barnard, accepting for himself, his heirs, successors and assigns, A portion of land containing one rood and fourteen perches situate in the said quarter of Castries at the Junction of the said Darling Road and the High Road from Castries to Gros Islet and bounded as follows, that is to say, North by Madame Alexandre St. Martin, South and East by the said Darling Road and the High Road to Gros Islet and West by the Sans Souci Estate – the said portion of land being coloured pink and marked A in the Diagram by Henry Reeve, Director of Surveys hereinafter referred to,
As the said respective portions of land are and extend and
with the rights, members and appurtenances thereto belonging, according to a
Plan or Diagram by Henry Reeve, Director of Surveys, dated the fourteenth April
one thousand eight hundred and ninety one in the possession of the parties
hereto.
To have hold and enjoy the said portions of land
hereinbefore Described and hereby deeded and conveyed by way of Exchange, with
all their rights, members and appurtenances unto the said Government of Saint
Lucia and Samuel Barnard, as property to them lawfully appertaining and belonging
respectively.
The portion of land hereby ceded and conveyed by the said Samuel
Barnard to the said Government, forms part of the Sans Souci Estate, purchased
by the said Samuel Barnard at a Judicial Sale before the Royal Court of this Island
on the eleventh day of February One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
And the portion of land hereby ceded and conveyed by the
said Valerius Skipton Gouldsbury on behalf of the said Government to the said
Samuel Barnard is Government property.
And in consideration of the foregoing exchange, it is hereby
further agreed between the parties hereto, that the boundary line between the
Sans Souci Estate, belonging to the said Samuel Barnard, and the lands called
the Reclamation, belonging to the Government, shall be as indicated and
described in the hereinbefore mentioned Plan or Diagram by Henry Reeve,
Director of Surveys of the fourteenth April one thousand eight hundred and
ninety one, that is to say, that all the land coloured pink and marked C in the
said Plan or Diagram, and lying between the Darling Road and the Rubble Embankment
shall be deemed and taken as the property of the said Samuel Barnard; Provided that the Government shall have a
right of access to a strip of land of twelve feet in width within the boundary
line of the said Samuel Barnard and along the Rubble Embankment, the said strip
of land also indicated in the aforesaid Plan or Diagram, for the purpose of
effecting any repairs or improvements, which the Government may consider necessary
to be made to the said Embankment and Provided also that the said Samuel
Barnard shall not build on any part of the said strip of land, to which the
right of access is reserved by the Government as aforesaid.
Done and passed at Castries Island of Saint Lucia on record
at the office of the undersigned Peter Joseph Kinnier Ferguson, Notary Royal
No. 14 Bridge Street, the eighth day of May, One thousand eight hundred and ninety
three and these presents having been read to the parties have been signed by
them and by the Notary.
Signed on the Original:
Samuel Barnard. V. Skipton
Gouldsbury, PIK Ferguson, Notary Royal
Compared with the Original and certified to be a true copy
thereofPIK Ferguson, Notary Royal (Notary Seal)
___________________________________________________________________________
Bill of Sale No. 79
Official Number 40598 Name of Ship Aid No. Date and Port or Registry One of 1891 Castries, St. Lucia.
British Build Steam – Screw Built at Bristol 1870
One Deck
Head NoneOne Mast Framework Iron
Sloop Rigged
Stern Round
Build Curved
Galleries None
Length 55 feet Mainbreadth to outside of Plank 12.3 feet
Depth in Hold from Tonnage Deck to Ceiling at Midships 6.6 feet
Engine One Speed
of ship Fifteen
No. of Tons 26.14
Deductions as per Contra 12.50 Space Required for Propelling Power No. of
tons 12.50Registered Tonnage 13.64
We The Saint Lucia Steam Conveyance Company (Limited) by
Henry Leburieux Balmar of the Town of Castries in the Island of Saint Lucia,
Managing Director, in consideration of the Sum of Twenty one pounds ten
shillings, paid to us by The Honourable Samuel Barnard, Walter Herbert Barnard
and Frank Barnard of the town and Island aforesaid, Merchants, the Receipt
whereof is hereby acknowledged, transfer Sixty four shares in the Ship above
particularly described, and in her boats, gun=, ammunition, small arms and
appurtenances, to the said Honourable Samuel Barnard. Walter Herbert Barnard
and Frank Barnard. Further, We the said
Saint Lucia Steam Conveyance Company (Limited) for ourselves and our heirs
covenant with the said Samuel Barnard, Walter Herbert Barnard and Frank Barnard
and their assigns that we have power to transfer in manner aforesaid the
premises herein-before expressed to be transferred and that the same are free
from encumbrances.
In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names and
affixed our seal this seventeenth day of March One thousand eight hundred and
ninety four by and through the hands of Henry Leburieux Balmar, Managing Director
as aforesaid. Executed by the above
name Saint Lucia Steam Conveyance Company Limited in the present of D. G.
Glencote, Registrar of the Port of Castries St. Lucia.
(Signed) H Leburieux Balmar, Manager, St. Lucia Steam
Conveyance Co. (Ltd.)
______________________
There was a one penny stamp
of the St. Lucia Steam Conveyance Company Limited, c. 1872, (second
printing)
This company
carried mail by sea from Castries to the coastal
villages of St. Lucia. Stamps were issued from around 1871 to 1872 when the
company went out of business. A possibly provisional stamp is illustrated in
the book by Hurt and Williams which was followed by the issue of several values
depicting a steamship in an oval frame. There are a number of different
printings of the stamps which may be distinguished by paper and gum variations.
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
2014 A Labor Day Weekend Barbecue
I am in Costco the Friday before Labor Day and they have a
Road Show with various seafood, including cockles, mussels and some wild
salmon. In a moment of weakness I buy a
whole salmon (sans head) at the incredible price of $4.99 a pound. The man slips it into two long plastic bags
with ice between to keep it fresh on the way home.
I am limping, as the previous day while walking in wet grass
I got stung twice by a wasp and my left foot is swollen, hot and sore. This
sting leads me to read about wasps, initially how to treat the sting but then
to find out about them. Apparently
there are 3 different kinds in California
I keep the salmon in the fridge for the next couple of days
but by Sunday I begin to worry about how fresh it is, so decide to have the
barbecue that day. My daughter and her 3 children are invited for
6 p.m. and after elevating and resting my foot for a while I begin cooking at
4. I am hoping for some help from my
daughter but she's taken the children to the park and for a bike ride, so is
not available though she's supposed to bring the vegetables and also dessert if
she wishes. I fetch the barbecue coals
from the garage and get the barbecue ready to light. It hasn't been used for some months, since my
son was here for a visit in early summer. Walking is painful. Then I begin cooking for potato salad. I have a great recipe which is always a big
hit with the children. Earlier I found
a recipe and instructions online for cooking a whole salmon, so I wash the fish
and prepare it with slices of lemon and chopped dill. I wrap the entire thing in heavy duty
foil and it's ready to go.
I hear a knock at my back door and turning round I see my 16
year old grandson at the French door.
My heart sinks. He is young for
his age and also has childhood onset bipolar disorder, which is very severe. Childhood onset bipolar is much worse than
anything that develops later in life and makes him extremely difficult and
stressful to deal with. He is on various medications which keep being
adjusted, so far without much effect. I had no idea he hadn't gone to the park. I go to the door, which is almost always
kept locked so he can't barge in on me, causing havoc, but he promises to
behave. I suggest he helps me light the
barbecue which he enjoys.
He asks for some barbecue tongs but I tell him I will find
them in a moment. Without my noticing
he then takes my wood toaster tongs and when I check on him a few minutes later
I find the end on fire ! Unfortunately as soon as he's left alone again
he tests the metal grille with the tip of his finger, burning off a piece of
skin. He rushes in and we put the
finger in cold water and then find neosporin and a bandaid. Almost as soon as the bandaid is on he rips
it off while I caution about pain and infection. He then wants to use my Wii. I make the excuse that I'm not sure where
the remote is and am too busy to look for it.
I keep my remotes hidden because of his behavior. Last time he tried to hack into the system
and caused a lot of stress. Then he asks
for the Roku, to listen to music. Unfortunately this turns out to be rap with
nasty lyrics, not only 4 letter words but graphic violence, at full blast. I am getting stressed and unhappy, having
difficulty concentrating and regretting my decision to have a barbecue. I never discipline him nowadays, as he is my
height and much stronger and becomes violent fast with certain triggers,
usually to do with electronics or something he wishes to either buy or sell.
Shortly the rest of the family return and younger brother,
comes to the door. He is 8 years old,
a dear little boy and nicely behaved, as is their sister, who is 12. I rush out and summon my daughter to help
turn down the rap noise. This entails a
big argument and threats to his mother, even the beginning of some
violence. Fortunately he calms down
and after the music is turned off they all go to Trader Joe to get some
dessert. S is a massively talented
singer and earned $50 singing recently, so is happy to go to the store with
money in his pocket. He excels in all
areas of his extremely narrow interests, so it's sad that he cannot function
well in the day to day world.
After they return with a large bag of various goodies,
Julian finds one of his favorite DVD's, Lord of the Rings and puts it on,
without asking and rather loud, but none of us say anything. My mother used to say 'choose your battles'
and this is definitely good advice where he is concerned. I continue with my preparations for dinner -
putting the salmon on the barbecue and finishing the potato salad, getting out
plates and utensils, cleaning off the patio table, turning the fish
periodically. The younger children are
disappointed that the salmon's head with eyes, has been removed !
With all the chaos the meal is later than I planned. Just as we are about to eat S opens both my
French doors and turns the TV towards the patio. He refuses to turn it off and neither Jenny
nor I feels like another argument. My
heart sinks, there goes my nice peaceful evening with conversation, enjoying
the meal. We eat to the sound of the
music that accompanies movie battles.
Fortunately the fish is delicious and all the food turns out well. Everyone eats lots. S has bought an enormous bar of chocolate, a
great deal of which he snatches before his mother can stop him.
I learn the following day that he was awake until 2 a.m. with the caffeine high. My daughter is exhausted but S is his usual exuberant self!
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Writing Class
I am taking a writing class. It is supposed to be autobiographical but not everyone writes what I would consider an autobiography. Some of the aspiring authors write about something that has happened in their life recently. We each read our most recent attempt and the size of the class varies from about 12 to 20 people. We meet twice a month.
It's fascinating to listen to the myriad experiences that have happened to virtual strangers. We are all so different and have had such a lot of things happen to us. One lady was born in Hawaii to a comfortably well off family and recently told us about her teenage and college years, which included how she met her husband and acted in school plays.
Another woman is a nurse, born in Germany and has written in detail about her training. Naturally some of my classmates write more interestingly than others. There are a couple that are so boring you hate to listen ! I usually deliberately turn my mind to other thoughts when it's their turn to read.
Our teacher is great ! He is very spiritual and kind. He has psychic abilities and worked at one point as a water dowser. He also helped various law enforcement agencies find missing persons. He did my horoscope for me recently, and it'is different to any I've seen before as he likes to use the Chinese data.
It's fascinating to listen to the myriad experiences that have happened to virtual strangers. We are all so different and have had such a lot of things happen to us. One lady was born in Hawaii to a comfortably well off family and recently told us about her teenage and college years, which included how she met her husband and acted in school plays.
Another woman is a nurse, born in Germany and has written in detail about her training. Naturally some of my classmates write more interestingly than others. There are a couple that are so boring you hate to listen ! I usually deliberately turn my mind to other thoughts when it's their turn to read.
Our teacher is great ! He is very spiritual and kind. He has psychic abilities and worked at one point as a water dowser. He also helped various law enforcement agencies find missing persons. He did my horoscope for me recently, and it'is different to any I've seen before as he likes to use the Chinese data.
Pyrotechnics
Pyrotechnics
July 4th, or Independence Day brings back many fond memories of fireworks day in England, which is celebrated on November 5th as Bonfire Day or Guy Fawkes Day. This was originally known as Gunpowder Treason Day. In the year 1605, a group of mostly Catholic conspirators were arrested for attempting to blow up parliament on November 5th, the day that King James I was scheduled to officially reopen the next parliamentary session. Guy Fawkes and his fellow conspirators had hidden gunpowder in the basement and he had entered the building to ignite it when he was arrested. Someone had alerted the authorities ! During the years prior to that attempt Catholics were discriminated against in numerous ways and the plotters hoped to start a rebellion after the explosion. Unfortunately after most of the perpetrators were arrested, even more punitive and discriminatory laws were passed. There is even a nursery rhyme which begins: "Remember, remember the fifth of November, Gunpowder, treason and plot..." (full words below)
My older brother, Richard, and I would save our money for weeks in advance to buy fireworks, which were kept in boxes under our beds. Our collections were a source of huge excitement. We were always strongly cautioned by our mother on the dangers, although I realize now that our bedrooms were not the best place to store them ! There were Catherine wheels, sparklers, fountains, squibs and rockets. My mother always did the lighting, at least until my brother was in his teens.
There was also the community bonfire. This was an enormous pile of wood provided by various people in the neighborhood and piled in a large field near our house. It could be 15 or more feet high. On top of this someone would place an effigy of Guy Fawkes, which is somewhat like a scarecrow except that the clothes are stuffed with crumpled newspaper. Children will often display these to passersby and ask for money to spend on fireworks, by saying "A penny for the guy ?", although we were not allowed to do this. We didn't always go to see bonfire burn, as November in England is frequently cold and rainy, but once lit, the heat from the pile was tremendous.
While doing my research, I learned the following about fireworks:
They originated in the Far East, most likely in China, though possibly India, but were used as far back as 600 AD. Apparently bamboo sticks placed on a fire often have air bubbles that explode when burned. The noise must have been terrifying to the unitiated and soon they were being used to scare away evil spirits. Later saltpeter, honey and arsenic disulfide were placed inside bamboo tubes and used to deter enemies, though it wasn't long before someone came up with the idea of using them as weapons.
Fireworks ingredients today are of the exact same proportions as those used in the 11th century. Marco Polo introduced fireworks to Italy in 1292 , from whence they became popular throughout Europe. Kings used them at coronations, weddings and religious festivals. Music was commissioned from famous composers to accompany the displays, which were grander than those of today. By 1830 Florence, Italy had a factory that produced most of the fireworks in Europe. The Italians invented pyrotechnics, the art and science of fireworks, creating families of pyrotechnic artists almost like royalty and carrying the tradition for generations.
The first record of Europeans using rockets in warfare was in 1379 at the siege of Chioggia, Italy. The Italians used the term "rochetto", taking the name from yarn-making spools with a similar shape, but later, the British changed this to rocket. In the 16th century a Romanian, Conrad Haas, conceived 2-stage rockets, as well as rockets designed to explode on impact. He also came up with the concept of fins, instead of a stick, to balance the rockets.
Over the years it was found that trace amounts of metals caused special effects. Titanium causes sparks, zinc: clouds, calcium deepens colors, blue from copper, gold from aluminum and magnesium, green: barium salts, red: strontium salts, yellow: sodium salts, and white: aluminum and magnesium.
Every year thousands of people are injured by fireworks both in the United States and England and each time there is a push to ban them. Many cities have banned them due to the fire hazard, though they are usually still sold and legal in large cities where there is no dry and incendiary vegetation. Even where they are banned and there are large public fireworks displays to watch there are usually a few brave souls who still light their own !
***********************************************
Traditional English Rhyme - 17th Century)
Remember, remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot
I see no reason why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, 'twas his intent
To blow up the King and the Parliament
Three score barrels of powder below
Poor old England to overthrow
By God's providence he was catched
With a dark lantern and burning match
Holloa boys, holloa boys
God save the King!
Hip hip hooray!
Hip hip hooray!
A penny loaf to feed ol' Pope
A farthing cheese to choke him
A pint of beer to rinse it down
A faggot of sticks to burn him
Burn him in a tub of tar
Burn him like a blazing star
Burn his body from his head
Then we'll say ol' Pope is dead.
Hip hip hooray!
Hip hip hooray!
July 4th, or Independence Day brings back many fond memories of fireworks day in England, which is celebrated on November 5th as Bonfire Day or Guy Fawkes Day. This was originally known as Gunpowder Treason Day. In the year 1605, a group of mostly Catholic conspirators were arrested for attempting to blow up parliament on November 5th, the day that King James I was scheduled to officially reopen the next parliamentary session. Guy Fawkes and his fellow conspirators had hidden gunpowder in the basement and he had entered the building to ignite it when he was arrested. Someone had alerted the authorities ! During the years prior to that attempt Catholics were discriminated against in numerous ways and the plotters hoped to start a rebellion after the explosion. Unfortunately after most of the perpetrators were arrested, even more punitive and discriminatory laws were passed. There is even a nursery rhyme which begins: "Remember, remember the fifth of November, Gunpowder, treason and plot..." (full words below)
My older brother, Richard, and I would save our money for weeks in advance to buy fireworks, which were kept in boxes under our beds. Our collections were a source of huge excitement. We were always strongly cautioned by our mother on the dangers, although I realize now that our bedrooms were not the best place to store them ! There were Catherine wheels, sparklers, fountains, squibs and rockets. My mother always did the lighting, at least until my brother was in his teens.
There was also the community bonfire. This was an enormous pile of wood provided by various people in the neighborhood and piled in a large field near our house. It could be 15 or more feet high. On top of this someone would place an effigy of Guy Fawkes, which is somewhat like a scarecrow except that the clothes are stuffed with crumpled newspaper. Children will often display these to passersby and ask for money to spend on fireworks, by saying "A penny for the guy ?", although we were not allowed to do this. We didn't always go to see bonfire burn, as November in England is frequently cold and rainy, but once lit, the heat from the pile was tremendous.
While doing my research, I learned the following about fireworks:
They originated in the Far East, most likely in China, though possibly India, but were used as far back as 600 AD. Apparently bamboo sticks placed on a fire often have air bubbles that explode when burned. The noise must have been terrifying to the unitiated and soon they were being used to scare away evil spirits. Later saltpeter, honey and arsenic disulfide were placed inside bamboo tubes and used to deter enemies, though it wasn't long before someone came up with the idea of using them as weapons.
Fireworks ingredients today are of the exact same proportions as those used in the 11th century. Marco Polo introduced fireworks to Italy in 1292 , from whence they became popular throughout Europe. Kings used them at coronations, weddings and religious festivals. Music was commissioned from famous composers to accompany the displays, which were grander than those of today. By 1830 Florence, Italy had a factory that produced most of the fireworks in Europe. The Italians invented pyrotechnics, the art and science of fireworks, creating families of pyrotechnic artists almost like royalty and carrying the tradition for generations.
The first record of Europeans using rockets in warfare was in 1379 at the siege of Chioggia, Italy. The Italians used the term "rochetto", taking the name from yarn-making spools with a similar shape, but later, the British changed this to rocket. In the 16th century a Romanian, Conrad Haas, conceived 2-stage rockets, as well as rockets designed to explode on impact. He also came up with the concept of fins, instead of a stick, to balance the rockets.
Over the years it was found that trace amounts of metals caused special effects. Titanium causes sparks, zinc: clouds, calcium deepens colors, blue from copper, gold from aluminum and magnesium, green: barium salts, red: strontium salts, yellow: sodium salts, and white: aluminum and magnesium.
Every year thousands of people are injured by fireworks both in the United States and England and each time there is a push to ban them. Many cities have banned them due to the fire hazard, though they are usually still sold and legal in large cities where there is no dry and incendiary vegetation. Even where they are banned and there are large public fireworks displays to watch there are usually a few brave souls who still light their own !
***********************************************
Traditional English Rhyme - 17th Century)
Remember, remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot
I see no reason why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, 'twas his intent
To blow up the King and the Parliament
Three score barrels of powder below
Poor old England to overthrow
By God's providence he was catched
With a dark lantern and burning match
Holloa boys, holloa boys
God save the King!
Hip hip hooray!
Hip hip hooray!
A penny loaf to feed ol' Pope
A farthing cheese to choke him
A pint of beer to rinse it down
A faggot of sticks to burn him
Burn him in a tub of tar
Burn him like a blazing star
Burn his body from his head
Then we'll say ol' Pope is dead.
Hip hip hooray!
Hip hip hooray!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
HOT FEET, BURNING hot feet, INSOMNIA DUE TO HOT FEET, CAUSE OF HOT FEET, HELP FOR PEOPLE WITH HOT FEET, CAN'T SLEEP DUE TO HOT FEET
I will be posting on this again, as I have finally (April 2016) learned what is wrong with me and am taking dietary steps to correct it !!!
For many years my life has been made extremely miserable due to burning hot feet. My feet are fine during the day, but anywhere from ten minutes to a couple of hours after going to sleep they become fiery hot. Once I put the thermometer between them and it registered 101 degrees F. This makes it impossible to sleep after the first couple of hours of exhaustion. I had tried everything: leaving them completely out of the covers even in the coldest weather, a fan blowing on them, washing them, soaking them in cold water, sitting with my feet on a cold floor, pacing the concrete outside. Sometimes my hands will also be unbearably hot and that is even worse since it's hard to keep them outside the covers. Very often my torso is freezing and I have to pile 2 or 3 blankets on that part of me, more in winter.
On a scale of one to ten, with ten being the worst, they are usually between 7 and 9. I can sleep when they are a 7, unless there is anything else stressful keeping my mind active, but even sleeping they are uncomfortable enough to make me restless. Anything over 7 and sleeping soundly is almost impossible. Alcohol makes them worse, pills are addictive and make me depressed. I have tried herbal remedies, calcium, magnesium, anything that promised help, to no avail. Even after the first couple of hours sleep, as soon as they become uncomfortable I start to thrash about.
I have been to the doctor, but he ruled out any medical reason (diabetes being the most likely).
Finally some help - my daughter has recently been going to a naturopath and asked him. He said that it was likely due to adrenal exhaustion. Apparently the adrenals become exhausted when there is a lot of stress in your life, and there has certainly been enough of that in mine.
After hearing this and giving it some thought, I decided that a cure might be found if I could just sleep, as that would cut down on the stress. Insomnia feeds on itself since one becomes more stressed without a good night's rest. I am one of those highly strung types and when I can't sleep I fall apart ! For some years I have restricted everything in my life, including going out in the evening, since I do better after a quiet time at home and an evening walk. Even going on vacation is not something I like to do. I find it best not to use the computer after 8 p.m.,and instead watch or read relaxing non stressful shows/books. It also means being very careful of diet, including chocolate and things like hot peppers, curry in the evenings, cutting out most sugary foods.
As a general way to boost my health I also avoid microwaves, plastic containers especially when anything warm/hot has been placed in them and most particularly not in microwave ovens, aspartame (under its many guises) and chemicals wherever possible.
At last I think I have found an effective remedy. I got some thin white kitchen towels (white so there is no dye) and as soon as I am woken by my feet I go to the bathroom and wet one, squeezing out the excess water. Then I wrap one foot and turn on my side with the wrapped foot on top but resting against the bottom foot to help cool that. I also tuck under the end to keep it more secure, or one could sew an elastic band and have that somewhat loosely over the towel so it is less likely to come loose. When I wake I wrap the other foot and turn the other way. If you try this you might want to put a waterproof pad or plastic sheet over the
mattress to protect it from damp. By the morning the heat is such that the towel is almost
dry !! I am happy to report that after 3 nights of this treatment I did not have hot feet last night !! Early days yet but I couldn't wait to post this in the hope that it might help others with this ghastly problem.
For many years my life has been made extremely miserable due to burning hot feet. My feet are fine during the day, but anywhere from ten minutes to a couple of hours after going to sleep they become fiery hot. Once I put the thermometer between them and it registered 101 degrees F. This makes it impossible to sleep after the first couple of hours of exhaustion. I had tried everything: leaving them completely out of the covers even in the coldest weather, a fan blowing on them, washing them, soaking them in cold water, sitting with my feet on a cold floor, pacing the concrete outside. Sometimes my hands will also be unbearably hot and that is even worse since it's hard to keep them outside the covers. Very often my torso is freezing and I have to pile 2 or 3 blankets on that part of me, more in winter.
On a scale of one to ten, with ten being the worst, they are usually between 7 and 9. I can sleep when they are a 7, unless there is anything else stressful keeping my mind active, but even sleeping they are uncomfortable enough to make me restless. Anything over 7 and sleeping soundly is almost impossible. Alcohol makes them worse, pills are addictive and make me depressed. I have tried herbal remedies, calcium, magnesium, anything that promised help, to no avail. Even after the first couple of hours sleep, as soon as they become uncomfortable I start to thrash about.
I have been to the doctor, but he ruled out any medical reason (diabetes being the most likely).
Finally some help - my daughter has recently been going to a naturopath and asked him. He said that it was likely due to adrenal exhaustion. Apparently the adrenals become exhausted when there is a lot of stress in your life, and there has certainly been enough of that in mine.
After hearing this and giving it some thought, I decided that a cure might be found if I could just sleep, as that would cut down on the stress. Insomnia feeds on itself since one becomes more stressed without a good night's rest. I am one of those highly strung types and when I can't sleep I fall apart ! For some years I have restricted everything in my life, including going out in the evening, since I do better after a quiet time at home and an evening walk. Even going on vacation is not something I like to do. I find it best not to use the computer after 8 p.m.,and instead watch or read relaxing non stressful shows/books. It also means being very careful of diet, including chocolate and things like hot peppers, curry in the evenings, cutting out most sugary foods.
As a general way to boost my health I also avoid microwaves, plastic containers especially when anything warm/hot has been placed in them and most particularly not in microwave ovens, aspartame (under its many guises) and chemicals wherever possible.
At last I think I have found an effective remedy. I got some thin white kitchen towels (white so there is no dye) and as soon as I am woken by my feet I go to the bathroom and wet one, squeezing out the excess water. Then I wrap one foot and turn on my side with the wrapped foot on top but resting against the bottom foot to help cool that. I also tuck under the end to keep it more secure, or one could sew an elastic band and have that somewhat loosely over the towel so it is less likely to come loose. When I wake I wrap the other foot and turn the other way. If you try this you might want to put a waterproof pad or plastic sheet over the
mattress to protect it from damp. By the morning the heat is such that the towel is almost
dry !! I am happy to report that after 3 nights of this treatment I did not have hot feet last night !! Early days yet but I couldn't wait to post this in the hope that it might help others with this ghastly problem.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)